Wireless controlling device.



G. L. COLEMAN. WIRELESS CONTROLLING DEVICE.

AFFLIOATIO! FILED JAIUZB, 1909.

Patented Mar. 8, 1910.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFrcE- CHARLES L. COLEMAN, OF SAN LEANDRU,CALIFORNIA.

WIRELESS CONTROLLIIKTG DEVICE.

It is the purpose of my invention to de-- vise a means whereby aplurality of electric motors, or other electric circuits, or othermechanisms,-may .be controlled by an operator from a central station, bymeans of wireless transmission mechanisms.

I purpose to provide a combination of mechanically operated means incombination with the electrically operated means which will enable theoperator to govern either the starting or stopping of suitable motors,or for instance, the guiding of submarine torpedoes, or similar vessels,or perhaps to discharge submarine mines.

The invention consists ofthe elements, and the construction andcombination of elements, or their equivalents, as set forth in thefollowing specification, and shown in the accompanying drawings, inwhich- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan of'the apparatus. Fig. 2 is adetail view of the contact mechanisms.

In the embodiment of my invention as shown, I employ the usual form of acoherer 2, which .is mounted in a relay battery cir-' cuit 3 so as tocomplete the circuit and ener- 'ze the electromagnets 4 when a currentas been discharged from a sending station, which it is not necessaryhere to show as this sending mechanism may be of the usual well knowncharacter. ing of the relay magnets 4, the armature 5 will be attractedand close the circuit 6, which here includes a battery 7 and anelectromagnet' 8 which controls a release lever 9.

The outer end of the release lever 9 is provided 'with a projecting lug10 which is adapted to normally bear upon the surface of a'notchedturnable ring 11, which is securely fastened to the pintle 12, of asuitable clock-work, or other mechanism,

which: would be under constant tension from its driving spring 13, orits equivalent. As shown by the arrow in Fig. 1, the ring 11 revolves tothe right,'and has upon its-upper Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 25,1909.

Upon the energiz- Patented Mar. 8, 1910.

Serial No. 474,048.

surface, at suitable intervals, notches or shoulders 14 adaptedtoencounter the downwardly projecting lug "10 of the arm 9; the tension ofthe spring 13 holding the ring against the lug 10 until the arm 9 israised from engagement with the notches 14: by means of theelectromagnet 8 when the circuit 6 is closed. The ring upon being released will rotate as indicated until the lug 10 engages the nextsuccessive notch 14.

The ring has secured to it a contact lever 15, and when the lever 9 isactuated to release the ring 11, the contact member 15 will be carriedaround with the ring, and is adapted to 'engage at suitable intervalsaround its course, with contacts 16-insulats ably secured upon the frame16* of the clock-' work. One electric conductor 17 is led from thecontact member 16 to a suitabl e motor; the return circuit from themotor being carried over conductor 19 back to a suitable binding-postelectrically connected to the frame-Work 16 of the mechanism. A battery20, or other suitable source of electrical energymay be interposed inthis local circuit so as to energize the motor.

As many of the contacts is maybe provided around the course over whichthe con-' tact lever 15 travels as is required. In the present instanceI have shown two of these members 16, each controlling its own circuitand included motors.

Asa-n example of the utility of a. mechanism of this character, it maybe assumed that the two motors 18, may each be connected up to drive thepropeller of a submarine boat or other vessel; one of the motorscontrolling the forward drive of the vessel, and the other motorcontrolling the rearward drive; consequently, it one of the motors isenergized, the vessel will be driven forward as long as desired, andthen this circuit may be interrupted by means of release lever 9,

'and the other motor 18 be energized to reverse the motion of thevessel; or again these several motors may be connected to operatetheirudder to steer a vessel; one

motor being effective to turn the vessels head in one direction, and theother the opposite.

The invention is particularly well adapted as a controlling device forsubmarine mines,

in which case each of the contacts 16, and its respectivecircuit, may bemade effective to cause the explosion of any desirable torpedo or mine.

Obviously, the coherer 2 will be energized by the operator from the mainstation, and when the coherer completesits circuit 3, the relay will, inturn, close the circuit 6, and energize the magnet 8 which will attractthe armature 9' of the lever 9 so as to release the ring 14:.Manifestly, the ring may be caused to have an almost continuous motionif the operator so desires, by simply energizing magnet 8 as rapidly asthe notches i l of the ring come into engagement with the lug 10.Consequently, while there may be any number of the contacts 16, withtheir respective circuits, only that particular circuit which theoperator wishes to energize, would be permitted to be closed by thecontact lever 15, which will remain in engagement with the contact 16 solong as the operator desires. The several notches 14: are so disposedupon the ring 11 that the contact lever 15 may be brought to a neutralposition between the contact members 16, and held in its idle positionwithout energizing any of the circuits. The lever 15 may be extended asuitable distance, and carry a pivoted or otherwise movably mounted contact member 15" which is adapted to be held in such position, while thering 11 is revolving, that no contact with the stationary members 16,will be made, but the contact 15 will immediately assume a position tomake or close the circuit through the member 16 over which it may bestopped. The contact 15 is here shown as being a bell crank, the

lower arm 15 of which is weighted, and.

when the ring 11 is rotated, the arm is thrown outward by centrifugalforce, thus keeping contact l5 lifted.

' Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent is L 1. In an electrical controlling apparatus,

the combination of a means to be actuated, contacts suitably locatedwith relation to said means, electrical connections from said contactsto the means to be operated, a revoluble member having successivelyoperating projections on its surface by which said contacts are made andbroken, said contacts being arranged at equal distances upon each sideof the axis of the revoluble member, said revoluble member having apivotally mounted member with an extended contact to successively engagethe firstnamed contacts, a stop device including a pivotally mountedlever having one portion engaging the revolublemember to control themovement thereof,'a coherer, electromagnets and electrical connectionswhereby the lever may be released from its engagement with the revolublemember.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of ameans to be with said means, a revoluble member by actuated, contactsand electrical connections which said contacts are alternately completedand broken, said member having spaced shoulders and said contacts beingarranged at equal distances-upon each side of the axis of said revolublemember and at greater distances from the axis of said memher than thecircumference thereof, a pivoted lever carrying at one end a stop bwhich the revoluble member may be arreste a member secured to andprojecting from the revoluble member having a contact to successivelyengage the first-named contacts, an electron'iagnet and armature at theoppositeend of the lever, a coherer, and intermediate electricalconnections whereby the electromagnet may be energized and the levermoved to release the revoluble member.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of meansto be actuated, a revoluble member having shoulders arranged at equaldistances apart on its surface, contact members arranged at equaldistances from the axis of the revoluble member, electrical connectionsbetween said contacts and the connections to be actuated, an arm carriedby the revoluble member and extending therefrom having its outer endprovided with a pivotally mounted contact adapted to make electricalconnections with. the first-named contacts to complete a cir- 9 cuitwith either of the latter, a springpressed lever and a stop devicecarried at one end thereof adapted to engage the shoul= ders on therevoluble member to arrest the movement of said member, an armature car100 ried by the lever, an electromagnet, a coherer, batteries andelectrical connections whereby the action of the coherer energizes themagnet to move the lever and re lease the revoluble member through which105 the means to be actuated is effected.

4. In an apparatus of the character de scribed, stationary contactmembers, a revoluble member intermediate of the contact members,co-acting contact members carried thereby to pass the stationarymembers, and a suspension device including a pivotally mountedcounterweighted lever having. an extended contact member whereby thecontact carried by the revoluble part will be removed from the plane ofcontact while in motion,.and will resume a position to make contact whenat rest. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES L. COLEMAN. Witnesses:

C. IV. MQLAUGHLIN, O. J. LYNCH.

